Probate Education Center
Probate Glossary
Understand probate terminology, estate administration concepts, beneficiary rights, court procedures, and fiduciary responsibilities.
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Fiduciary Duties
7 termsPersonal Representative
The person responsible for administering a probate estate.
Executor
A person named in a will to administer the estate.
Fiduciary
A person who must act in another party's best interests.
Fiduciary Duty
The legal obligation to act responsibly for the estate and interested parties.
Executor Compensation
Payment an Executor or Personal Representative may receive for estate work.
Executor Liability
Potential responsibility for mistakes or breaches during estate administration.
Co-Executors
Two or more people appointed to administer an estate together.
Estate Administration
8 termsProbate Estate
The assets and liabilities subject to probate administration.
Intestate
When someone dies without a valid will controlling the estate.
Testate
When someone dies with a valid will.
Will
A legal document explaining how property should be distributed after death.
Codicil
A legal amendment to an existing will.
Estate Accounting
A record of estate money received, spent, and distributed.
Final Accounting
A final report showing how estate assets were handled.
Small Estate
A simplified probate process for estates below a legal threshold.
Beneficiaries
6 termsBeneficiary
A person or entity entitled to receive estate assets.
Heir
A person who may inherit from an estate when there is no valid will.
Distribution
The transfer of estate property to heirs or beneficiaries.
Beneficiary Rights
The rights beneficiaries may have to information, accounting, and distributions.
Beneficiary Accounting
Estate accounting information shared with beneficiaries.
Inheritance Dispute
A disagreement about estate assets, beneficiaries, or administration.
Court & Filings
8 termsLetters of Authority
Court-issued proof of authority to act for the estate.
Letters Testamentary
Court-issued authority for an Executor named in a will.
Letters of Administration
Court-issued authority for an administrator when there is no executor.
Petition
A formal request filed with the probate court.
Probate Court
The court that oversees probate and estate administration matters.
Ancillary Probate
A secondary probate case opened in another state.
Court Approval
Permission from the probate court before taking certain estate actions.
Contesting a Will
Challenging whether a will is valid.
Assets
3 termsCreditors
7 termsCreditor Claim
A claim that the estate owes money to a creditor.
Estate Liability
A debt, obligation, or claim owed by the estate.
Notice to Creditors
A notice that gives creditors a deadline to submit claims.
Estate Debt
Money owed by the deceased person or estate.
Funeral Expense
Costs related to funeral, burial, cremation, or memorial services.
Priority Claim
A claim that may be paid before other estate debts.
Tax Obligation
Taxes that may need to be filed or paid by the estate.
Related resources
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